Motion-picture apparatus



Aug. 21, `192s.

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- A. R. CLAS MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Elliboz ms I Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES ANGELO ROBERT CLAS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

MOTION-morena APPARATUS.

Application filed November 3, 1924. Serial No. 747,409.

This invention relates to motion picture display means, and has primarily for its ob.- Vject the provision of a means of this character whereby, with the use of a single film, pictures may be projected on different screens located at points to be advantageously viewed from different parts of the threatre or room in which the pictures are displayed.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inv which,-

Figure lis a. horizontal section of a motion pictureauditorium showing the fioor plan. Fig. 2 is a. vertical longitudinal section on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation pf an apparatus adapted to project pictures 'in opposite directions from a single lm and having parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a different elevation thereof with parts broken away. u Fig. 5 is a top plan view t-hereof with a part broken'away, and Fig. 6 is a view illustrating diagramma-tically the course of movement of a film through the machine from one roll to another and around interposed idler rolls. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 1 designates an auditorium having a screen 2 at one end, and

a screen 3 at the'opposite end, and provided in the upper portion thereof substantially centrally between the two screens with a room or loft 4 in which the picture projecting apparatus is located.y The picture projecting apparatus preferably employed is of unit construction, as hereinafter more fully described, and is adapted to project pictures Y in opposite directions from a single film onto both screens 2 and 3. With this arrangement of projecting apparatus andscreens it is preferable to have the ent-rance and exit opening or openings located at the central portion of the auditorium, as indicated by the opening 5, and to have seats 6 located at both sides of the central portion of the auditorium with those at one side facing the adjacent screen 2 and those at the other side facing .the other screen 3. It is preferable to have the opening 5 in communication with a central raised platform 7, and to have the portions of the fioor at opposite sides of the platform sloping downwardly toward the respective screens. 'Thisprovides an auditoriv with a seating capacity with all of the seats within convenient viewing distance from a display screen, and by employing a single projecting apparatus for the two screens it is in effect the same as supplying the pictures for the screens of two theatres from a single projecting apparatus.

My invention contemplates broadly the projection of pictures at the same time 1n opposite directionsfrom a single film, and one apparatus for accomplishing this is shown more or less conventionally in Figs. 3 to 6 of the drawings. This apparatus, as illustrated, comprises a .base or standard 10 having bracket arms 11 and l2 rising from opposite sides thereof in spaced relation, one supporting a lanternv 13 and the other a lantern 14 with the lanterns arranged in transversely offset relation, so that the light rays may be directed from either lantern past the other lantern. Separate housings 15 and 16 are supported by and rise from the base 10 with one in advance of each lantern 13 and 14. Each housing 15 and 16 isprovided therethrough with an opening l17 through which the rays from the respective lantern are projected, and each opening is provided with the lens or magnifying projectors used in connection with apparatus of this type.

One of these housings, 15 in the present instance, is provided on its top with-acase 18 for receivin a film coil 19 from which the film being s own is intended to unwlnd, the aim being adapted ee pese therefrom down through the associated housing 15 past the picture projecting opening 17 and around an idler roll 20 disposed in a case 21 below the housing 15. The film thence passes diagonally upward from the case 21' through a guide passage 22 into 'a case 23 on Htop' of the housing 16and around a gulde roll 24 in said casing. The film thence passes down through the associated housing 16 past the picture projecting opening 17 therein and winds in a coil around a take-up roll or shaft 2 5 provided in a case 26 at the lower portion of the housing 16. A shaft 27 1s journalle'd and projects through the two housings 15 and 16 and carries a toothed feed wheel 28 within each housing fon engagement with the film to impart feeding movements thereto. There may also be a driving connectlon 29 between the shaft 27 and take-u shaft 25 to drive the latter 'at proper Spee to wind the filmthereon as'it passes from the picture 'hand-crank 3() mounted thereon for such purpose.

It is evident in the use of an apparatus of this character that the film unwinding from therroll 19 will first pas/s the picture projecting lens in the housing so that the rays from the lantern 13 will effect a projection of the ilm pictures onto one of the screens. The lm, after leaving the first projecting lens, passes down around a guide roll 20 and thence up over a second guide roll 24, from which it passes down past the projecting lens associated with the otherI lantern so that pictures are again-projected from the same lilm onto the other screen or in an opposite direction from the projection of the pictures by the first lantern.

It will be understood that the apparatus' shown is more or less conventional in form and merely intended to illustrate the idea of projecting pictures at the same time in opposite directions from a common film, and that numerous changes may be made or other apparatus provideda for accomplishing the same purpose without departing from the spint of the claim.

' Having thus descrlbed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-A Ymounted onthe upper end portions of said arms and arranged in transverselyfoffset relation, a pair of housings supported by said base and positioned in advance of'each lantern, each housing having an opening thru Which light rays from the adjacent lantern may pass, a plurality of means for guiding a lm downwardly in one housing past the respective opening and then diagonally upward to the other housing and thence down- Wardly past the respective opening, a'shat't journaled in and projecting through said housing,a toothed Wheel withineach housingon said shaft for imparting feeding movel ments to the ihn, and means Vfor rotating said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signedmy name to this specification. v

' ANGELO ROBERT CLAS. 

